Foreclosed homes off to auction

Friday

Jun 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Around 50 properties will go to public auction this summer after they were foreclosed on at the end of March.

By Shawna Jankoviakshawna@cheboygantribune.com

Around 50 properties will go to public auction this summer after they were foreclosed on at the end of March.Cheboygan County Treasurer Linda Cronan gave a report on the properties to the Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners during the panel's regular meeting Tuesday. She said that although she had not yet heard from the state in regards to any interest it might have in claiming any of the properties, she wanted to find out of there was any county interest before going forward with creating the sale book.Before selling any foreclosed properties at a public auction, the county treasurer must first offer them to the state/DNR, who has the right to purchase them at fair market value.Any properties remaining must then be offered to the local municipality or township in which it is located, for a minimum bid price set by the county treasurer.Properties not purchased by either the state or local municipality/township are then offered to the county, who has the right to purchase by paying the minimum bid. Any property purchased by either the local municipality/township must be used for public purposes, such as a park.Cronan said the Village of Wolverine is obtaining one of the foreclosed properties in that area for a recycling bin site.This year's properties include a boat slip at the Duncan Bay Boat Club, multiple fixer-upper homes in the city of Cheboygan, a small cottage in Grant Township near the Black Mountain recreation area, a mobile home on East Mullett Lake Road near Mullett Lake, a rustic cabin near Wolverine, a mobile home pad near Tower, a vacant parcel with frontage on a branch of the Sturgeon River near Wolverine and an updated home in Wolverine. There are also many vacant lots and site condo building lots in different parts of the county.Anyone interested in viewing information about the properties can go to www.tax-sale.info and click on “Cheboygan County” in the listings that appear on the left-hand side of the page. Information on the bidding process is included on the website. Cronan said people should not physically go onto any of the properties, as at least one of the homes is occupied. She has keys for some of the homes and can show them to interested buyers if they contact her.Removal of any of the foreclosure and tax sale signage at the properties is also against the law, Cronan said.The sale, which includes properties from four counties, will take place at noon on Aug. 17 at the Inland Lakes Elementary School. Sale books with a detailed listing of available properties in Cheboygan County will be available for a fee in Cronan's office, which is located in the Cheboygan County Building. Her office can be contacted by calling 627-8821.Since 2008, foreclosed property sale proceeds must remain in a foreclosure fund for two years after the sale in case of lawsuits or other costs. After that, the treasurer is required to submit a written report to the Board of Commissioners identifying any remaining balance and any contingent costs of title or other legal claims.All or a portion of any remaining balance, minus any contingent costs of title or other legal claims, may then be transferred into the general fund of the county by the Board of Commissioners.